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Teammates: Tracey, Emily, Kate and Abby: Welcome back Emily!
Weather: warm and windy
I never found my rhythm on this course. Too many bot-dots, a nasty 120 degree turn with no good lines, no great place to move up, and some sketchy riders taking corners like Cat 4 men. My plan was to conserve in the beginning and try to get in a break mid to late race. I wanted to do well in the omnium which included the Mt. Diablo hill climb the day prior.
We started fast and there were a few attacks, but nothing stuck. I sat in and so did Tracey, waiting for the field sprint. Kate, Abby and Emily were more active at the front. But instead of initiating attacks, we were more following wheels. The race proceeded this way and mid-race I was towards the front and tried to go with a few attacks. Again, nothing stuck for more than a lap or two and I tired myself out. I was content to sit back in and recover. A very threatening break got away with about 6 laps to go which included Kelly (Touchstone), Flavia, and two other riders. I was too far back in the group to get to the break and was frustrated I had missed it. I just could not find my rhythm to move up on this course.
Kate, Abby and other riders made an effort to bring back the break. With a few to go, the break was caught. I was surprised, but heard afterwards the girls were not working well together, and instead attacking each other. Otherwise, I think they would have stayed away. With two to go I moved myself up. I looked around for our secret weapon Tracey, but she was no where to be found. Later reports confirmed as Abby was moving her up with two to go, Alto Velo sketchy-rider-of-the-year took out her front wheel causing her to loose momentum and unclip to prevent a fall. So there I was, one to go, with no sprinter on my wheel. Oh no, I thought, this isn’t going to be a lead-out this is going to be a SPRINT. I made a huge effort to move up to the front into the last 120 degree turn. I again took a horrible line, fumbled over some bot dots and then I exploded into full power!! I was like a freight train barreling up the long uphill drag to the finish. My legs were pulsing, head down, sweat pouring off of me. I ended up 8th. I asked Courtney and Emily and all my friends if they had seen my big sprint. No, they all said, we must have missed it…
I wanted to say thanks to VAC’s Courtney Brown for her support all weekend! And now I know why she is getting into triathlons!
Highlights and Lowlights of the Crit:
Highlight: watching my boyfriend win the field sprint in the Cat 4s to take 2nd place! Geoff is a ‘sprinter’ like me.
Lowlight: watching the winner of the Cat4 race come across the line and give his victory salute—which was a gesture with his hands to give-him-some, and a tongue move that almost made me gag. Yes he rode well solo off the front, but please don’t do that move again, I will have nightmares.
Photos of both here: http://www.cloverphoto.com/gallery/3161966#174005749
http://kckingphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/3163417#173868861
MT DIABLO HILL CLIMB:
The hill climb was a blast, as all uphill time trials seem to be (ha). The usual crowd was there, and it was good to see some friends that I hadn't seen since before Nature Valley. Personally, the race wasn't my best performance, but Kristina seemed pleased when she came through the finish line. She should be really proud of herself on a stellar performance up hill! - ABBY
LAFAYETTE CRITERIUM
It was nice to have Emily back in the race plan, as this was the first race back from her injury a couple of months ago. Emily did a fine job of doing a lot of work at the beginning of the race by launching a couple of attacks and keeping the pace high. I did my best to cover as much as I could at the beginning of the race, and Kate certainly took on a lot of work herself during the rest of the race. Kate did a lot of work keeping the speed up and not allowing anyone to get away. Tracy was sitting in for the final sprint, but unfortunately, got caught up in a blunder on the final lap. Kristina was our leading scorer with a great sprint at the finish. Well done, ladies. - ABBY
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